Humidifier



2 Sheets-Sheet HUMIDIFIER H. E. SMITH ET AL Filed Jan. 141926 March A26, 1929,

MWI/11111111!! 11111111 March 26, 1929. H. E. SMITH ET AL HUMIDIFIER Filed Jan. 14. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet" 2 Patented Mar. 26, 1929;

` 1,706,903 PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT sivriTn Ann ARTI-TUR w. SMITH', or GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

HUMIDIFIER.

Application filed January 14, 1526. Serial 110.151,32.

rThis invention relates to a humidifier for dwelling houses, buildings and other structures Which are provided With a heating plant or apparatus for heating the same.

T he invention has for its object to' humidify the heated air Within the house or other building in a highly efficient and economical manner. i `1 i To facilitate description, the invention will be described in connection with the heating` plant of a dwelling house. The heating plant may be a hot Water or steam heater,

a hot air furnace or a stove or range, and Will be hereinafter referred to as aheater.

ln accordance with this invention, the

` Waste heats in the products of combustion passing,- out of theheater to the chimney are utilised for vaporizing Water or other liquid Which is` discharged Ainto the atmosphere within the building to humidify said atmosphere. i i

To this end, a `container for theWater or other liquid is subjected to the Waste heats in the products of combustion passing,- through the smoke outlet pipe of the heater tothe chimney, and is provided With a vapor-outlet which communicates with the atmosphere outside of the smoke outlet pipe, and preferably communicates with a pipe vvhic'h maybe led to any desired part of the building' to discharge the vapor therein and thereby humidify the air in the building. i

`The liquid container is preferably located in a. casina' capable of beinginsertcd into the` pipe to forni a Section or partsrni Ye outlet thereof.

rllhe liquid `container is preferably connected with the vapor outlet pipe by a chamber having; flexible walls, and may ably will be connected with a Wate` supply pipe, and pi vision Will preferably be made for automatically controlling the supply ofV Water to the container; as'ivillbe describcdl rlfhe casing or pipe for the Water container may and preferably will be provided with detachable heads, toenable thehumidiiier to be used with smoke outlet pipesof .different sizes or diameters. i i

These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claims at the endof this specification. Y L 4 Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a humidifier embodying this invention; p

Fig. 2, an end elevationof the humidifier shown in 1, looking toward the right and with parts in section;

an dfprefen Fig. 3, an enlarged detail in section, taken on the line 3-8, Fig. 1 g

Fig. t, anienlarged detail of the yielding support for one end of andY Fig.` 5, a detail of the valve-operatingI arm to bereferred to. i

Referring to the drawings, c represents a casing which is constructed so to be capable of forming` part of the smoke outlet pipe of a heater, not shown, as it may be of any suitable or Well-known type.

For the purpose of this invention, the casing` a may represent the smoke outlet pipe, andwill be referred to as the `smoke outlet casing. Y

`The casinp` a may and preferably Will be composed' of aY cylindrical sheet metal member or. body portion fitted upon flanges 12 of cast iron heads 13,111.` The heads 13, 14 are provided 'with openings 15, 16 and With outwardly projecting, flanges 17, 18 surrounding said openings, `and over which the ends of adjacent sections of a smoke outlet pipe of standthe liquid container,

i ard or relatively large size may be fitted.

In the present instance, the flanges 1?, 18 havecooperating with them cap members 19, whichl are detachably securedlto the flanges 17,18, so that capinenibers havingl openings 150, 160, and flanges 170, 18() of diferent sizes maybe used with smoke outlet pipes of smaller sizes ordiametersthan the openings 15, 16.

The smoke outlet casing a has cooperating `with it so as to bcheated by the heat passing through the smoke outlet pipe to the chiuu'iey, a liquid container ii, which in the present in stance is shown as located in the casing a. as is preferred.`

' The liquid container Z) conuuunicates with the atmosphere outside of the casing a, and preferably as herein showirwith a pipe, by means of which the vapor may be discharged into= the atniospheremat any point desired, either adjacent to orremote from the casing, Where it is desired to humidify vthe atmos phere. i p

VIn the present instanceja preferred con struction of `container isshoxvn, which conL sists of a sheet metal vessel 2O provided with a sheet metal cover Qlivhich isl hermetically sealed to the Vessel Q0 at the rim thereof by foldingthe edgevportion of the cover about a flange 22.011 the vessel 20.

The coverl` is provided jith an opening; With which cooperate threaded rings or niplples 28,24 located above and below the cover and serving to clamp the cover tothe bottom wall or member ofan expansible chamber 26, whose .top wall or member 27 is clamped byathreaded nipple or ringi28l to the lower end oi'a pipe 30,which is extended into and outside of the body lportion 10 of the casing u.

rl`he top and bottemxmember's 27, 25 of the expansible chamber 26V are hermetically secured"together'attlieir outer edges by foldiing the edge portion ottone member aoout the edge portion ofthe other as herein shown .or 'in any other suitable manner, and co- Qoperate to form a chamber having tiexible walls or diaphragmsfand which chamber will be hereinafter' referred 1 toV as f the vdiaphragm l chamber.'

It 'will thus be observed that the litjuid con? tainer l) is yieldingly connected with the pipe 30 by the diaphragmchamber y26 which pro-A vides for a fluid-tight connection between the movable container and the stationary pipe Y 30. The pip-e 30 is extended through an opening in the body portion of kthe casing u and is f firmly secured to the latter, which `may` be eilect'ed asherein shown. Y

'Y Tothis end, the-pipe '30 is provided on its Y. vtiiroughfthe said body portion.

Th'efpipe 30 forms the vapor outlet for the liquid@eliminaniv The pipe 30 'may be madeoanydesired length lto reach the point-at which .the vapor' is discharged into` the atmosphere,k but it is preferred to make said pipe relatively short as herein shown and as a-casting and `to provide an extension 35V` which maybe ordinary pipe. Y

Inthe presentinstance' the p1pe35 1s representedas a substantially short-straight pipe `which .isolisuflicientv length to extend up through the floor 8610i? 'a dwelling house and col i" ing port or opening 41 4extended through itdischargeA into a room' on the first door of said J house, 'the heater being located 1n the cellar y. j as new commonly practised; The upper end of thepip'e may be protectedwfrom injury and stoppageby'a-cap 37 supported above the loor by'fa bracket'fsecured'to the floor, said cap lalso actingas adistributor'or spreader.

- -Vith the apparatuses-thus iardescribed,

' waterorfothei"liquidto be va'poriz'ed, maybe manually supplied to the container b, but it preferred'fto Vauto'maticall-'y replenish the `Inftlfie present instance, one construction isf show for tlrus purpose.

lneedle*valve42Which ispsupported by a metal Y Y To thise'nd,v the pcV 30is'prov1dedwith an opening cage 43 having suitable openings for the passage of water, and said valve is moved in one. direction by a spring 44 encircling it between the wall or plate and a collar 45 on said valve.

The end of the needle valve which projects through the cage 43 has co-opcrating with it a set screw 4G carried by an uprightarni 47 rigidly attached to the ring 24 and therehy tothe container to move with the. latter.

The liquid container is supported to pivot or turn like a lever, which effected :is herein shown by a bow or yoke-shaped lever having a substantially horizontal trout portion 48, and side portions 49, which extend under the rim of the container at the trout end and sides thereof and upon which said rim rests1 and said side port-ions 49 have extended npwardly therefrom arms 50 provided with pivot pins or projections 25() (see Fig. 2) which turn in recesses in the upper surfaces of supporting arms 517 preferably integral with the head 13, and extended into the body portion 1.0 of the casing a.

The rear end of the container I) .is yieldingly supported by a spring 52 encircling a screw 53 extended through the cover 21 ot' the container and through the body portion 10 of the casing, said screw having nuts 54 for adjusting the compression or strength ot the spring 52, so as to cause the container to assume a substantially horizontal iosition when the needle valve 42 is closed an( the desired quantity ot' liquid has been admitted into' the container.

The Aspring 52 and the nuts 54 are protected lby ak cap 56 which is suitably secured to the casing a, and which supports a device for `ir'idicating when the container is empty.

The indicating'device is shown as a pin or rivet 57 extended through the cap and made of sufficient length to .co-operate with the screw 53 to he elevated thereby when the eontainer is empty or the water level therein has fallen below a predetermined point.

The indicating device is provided in the present instance with a head 58 located out side of the cap 56 and serving to limit the movement oit thepin into the cap, and said device is provided with a washer 5E) on its inner end to limit the upward movement o' the indicator.

The valve or seat 40 co-operates with an openingr (i0 in a shell or casing (il (see Fig. 3i containing a strainer or cylinder of wire mesh 62 open at its opposite ends and communicating with a water inlet port 63 at one end of the shell or casing and also with a sediment outlet pipe or pet cock 64 at the opposite end of the said shell or casing.

'The water inlet port G3 is designed to he connected with a supply of water. which may be the water supply system ot the house or building in which the heater is located. T he strainer 62 is preferably fitted over the inner loo liti

il O

end ot the pet cock Ge so as to be removed 'therewith When it is desired to clean the strainer. i e

The vapor outlet pipe 3() may be 'provided with a V-shaped passage in one wall thercoif,

`one branch 70 being` open outside ot the pipe and the otnor branch 7l being` open inside thereof as shown in F l; This passage constitutes an overfiowiior the liquid in case ot accident to the valve e2.

rliho operation oi' the humidifier herein shown may be briefly described as iiollovvf" ii-'ter the casing c has been connected with the sinohe outlet pipe oit the heater, and the apor outlet pipe has been connected with the room in the house in which the vapor is `to be discharged, viator is admitted into the container 'through the filter or strainer casing 6l, port il and pipe 3 0.

is the Water accumulates in the container,

vapor thus termed passes from the container through the outlet pipe 30 and the extension thereof and is discharged into the atmos pherc the point desired, which as herein shown, is the room on the first licor ot' the house. Y i y As the Water in the container is vaporized, the container becomes lighter and the spring 52 litts the rear end ot the container and causes the latter Vto turn on and thus move the valve-operating arm e7 so as to allow the niedle valve to be opened by its spring' ist and permit Water to iloxv i nto the container to replenish the sai'lie until the normal Quantity has been supplied to the container'. its the Water accumulates in the container, the weight ot the sameturns the container in the opposite direction and causes Y the arm i? to close the valve 4t2 when the dosired quantity oit Water-has been admitted to the container.

VV' hen the con tainer has been restored to its substantially horizontal. position, the needle valve 4t2 is closed and the water supply is shut oil until more vvator is required in the container. l'

Ti7 hilo it may be pi'eiterred to provide for automatically controllingv the supply ot Water to the container, itis not desired to limit the invention in this respect, as the container may be supplied manually from time to time.

itt will be observed that the Water in the container is vaporized by the waste heat from the heater, and that the vapor thus formed is discharged into the atmosphere at the place the pivots 150l desired, and in the case of a house, factoryT or other building, having` more than one room, the vapor ma;7 be discharged into as many rooms desired by providingl a pipe tor each room.

ily moans rot a numidilier ol" the character herein'shovvn and described, the`vapor may be disclnirgeil at the pli Where it is most needed, inniicly, Where the airis dry, and in this manner a desired or normal humidity in the room may beobtained with the attendant bcnelicial and hygienic ettects, to wit: avoidanceoiI winter rash on the exterior surface oii' the body, irritation oit the mucous inemA brano ot the throat and noso, and excessive evailioiation 'l'rom the shin.

"While We have shown a preferred construe4 tion oi apparatus, it not desired to limit the invention to the particular construction shown.

lid/hat is claimed is: i

l. A lnunidilier or the character described, comprisingl a casing` having heads provided with openings, a rigid pipe extended into said casing, a liquid container located in said casing' and provided with a vapor outlet, and a chamber having` flexible Walls interposed between and connected With said container' and .said rigid pipe.

huinidilier oit thc character described, comprising' a casing provided with a vapor out`et pipe, a liquid container located in said casing and comn'iunicating with said outlet pipe, a valve controlling the supply ot liquid to said container through said vapor outlet pipe, and means responsive to movement of said container for operating,y said valve.

A humidilicr ot the character described, comprisini;l a smoke outlet casingl provided with an outlet pipe having a fluid inlet, a

strainer casing conmiiunicatinp,v with said pipethrough said i'iuid inlet, a strainer in said cas ing, a valve cooperating," with said fluid inlet, a liquid container located in saiivl smoke outlet ceasingl and communieating with the outlet pipe lfor said casiiw and ineens responsive to movement ci said container it'or oleieratiug said valve to suppl",7 iiuid to said container through said outlet pipe. i Y

Il. A h um idi tier oit the character described, comprtsing` a casingl havinga vapor outlet pipo, a liquid container located in said casing and provided with a vapor outlet, a chan'rber between said vapor outlets provided with flexible top and bottom Walls having` vapor outlets, and means tor securing` said `top and bottom walls` to the liquid container and to the vapor outlet pipe ttor said casing to connect thesaid outlet pipe with said container through said chamber.

\ 5. A humidifier of the character described, con'iprisingl a casing` havinga vapor outlet pipe, a liquid container located in said casing` and provided with a vapor outlet communieatingl with the said vapor outlet pipe, a valve controlln'g'tlie flow oflqudinto said outlet pipe zmdvcontainer, a pvoted yoke t0 Support one I@nd of Suid `liquid container, and an arm rmova'bleu Wth saidcontaner 1 and extendvd into said vapor Outlet Ypip-Hand cooemting with Smid v-Lilve .LG 'operate l '6. 'A humidifier of tllehm'uske described, Comprising a csingvhavig n ,VP-,301' ourlet pipe@liquidcon'ainer located in Said casing and-pfovdedrwth imvapor outlet communi- 

